management, clinical, administration and marketing

Denise is a proven leader that brings an exacting blend of Medical and Administration to develop a model for leadership in healthcare that sets the stage for success. A trusted leader and motivator with keen communication skills meeting determined goals and objectives and a CEO in addiction treatment facilities for over 10 years with over 30 years in healthcare experience. Denise is well versed in treatment, continuing care and organizational culture, with significant experience in medical accreditation, client and family outcomes.

Bruce F. Singer, Psy.D., the Chief Clinical Officer at Urban Recovery NYC, is a licensed psychologist with an international reputation as an expert on psychosocial treatments for substance use disorders and chronic pain. He served as Chief of Psychology at Crossroads Centre in Antigua and was the founding Director of the Chronic Pain and Recovery Center at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut. An inspirational speaker known for his creativity and sense of humor, Dr. Singer is the author of Black Duck Moments Every Day, a new book of daily affirmations for people with chronic pain as well as numerous popular articles on the mental health and spiritual benefits of using mindfulness, ACT, and gratefulness in recovery. In addition to his work with Urban Recovery NYC, he sits on the Medical Advisory Board of the U.S. Pain Foundation and on the Board of Directors of Chronic Pain Anonymous.

Dr. Kimberly Mallin, Diplomate of ABFM, is a Board-Certified Family Physician who has been in practice for over 30 years. She has extensive experience in caring for patients with Substance Use Disorders, aided by her own abstinence-based recovery from addiction of 22 years. Dr. Mallin graduated from East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine and completed a Family Medicine residency at Medical University of South Carolina/Trident Hospital Systems. In addition to private Family Medicine Practice, Dr. Mallin has been on faculty at the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina as well as American University of Antigua College of Medicine. In Antigua Dr. Mallin developed and led the on-campus University Park Health Center and provided health care for the over 1000 students, faculty and staff. She was responsible for Wellness Initiatives such as yoga, Zumba and Brazilian jiu jitsu classes. In addition, she coordinated the yearly week-long Alcohol and Drug week to educate students and faculty about Drug and alcohol issues. Dr. Mallin also served as faculty advisor for the Family Medicine Interest Group, co-advisor of the Emergency Response Team, chairman of the Wellness Committee and the Community Emergency Relief Committee.

Charles A. Perkel, M.D

Chief of Psychiatry

Charles A. Perkel, M.D.

Dr. Charles Perkel is a New York City-based general and Chief of Psychiatry with over 20 years of experience. After completing his training and Addiction Fellowship at Beth Israel in Manhattan (now Mount Sinai Beth Israel) Dr. Perkel returned to South Africa in 1998 where he ran a private practice and a rehabilitation clinic and became a national expert on drugs and addiction. He returned to Beth Israel in 2008 where he served as Director of the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship and Dual Addiction Psychiatry Inpatient Unit Chief. Dr. Perkel’s interests include the relationship between addictive and psychiatric disorders and understanding the addicted brain. He has embraced a holistic approach and believes his clinical role is to help guide individuals on their path to healing. Dr. Perkel utilizes or encourages a range of modalities including appropriate use of medicines and psychotherapy. He also sees the rediscovery of meaning in life as critical for the recovery process. Dr. Perkel is a member of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association. He has also published and co-published scientific articles on various aspects of addiction and has won a teaching award for his mentorship of psychiatrists in training.

Rev. Jack Abel is a Vice President who oversees Wellness and Culture at Urban Recovery, a premier residential detox and inpatient addiction treatment provider in Brooklyn, New York. Having worked for over ten years as a subject matter expert and leader in spirituality for addiction treatment services, Jack brings his ordination in the United Church of Christ and as an interfaith minister in parallel with his Masters Degree in Business Administration to lead artfully and with compassion and insight. A gifted and sought-after preacher and public speaker, he is a member of the UCC Mental Health Network Board of Directors and founding president of Spiritual Care Addiction Treatment Professionals. A summa cum laude graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, Jack also pursued advanced studies at Catholic University and The New Seminary, and previously served as an endorsed substance abuse chaplain and pastor in the United Methodist Church.

Pamela Alvich

Executive Director Business Development

Eshrak Awad, MSN, FNP-BC, RN

Family Nurse Practitioner Director of Nursing

Allyson Bush, MA, ATR-BC

Allyson Norwood Bush, MA, ATR-BC

A life-long artist and board-certified art therapist, Allyson trained at New York University directly with art therapy pioneer, Edith Kramer. With more than 25 years of professional experience in addiction and mental health, Allyson incorporates person-centered, cognitive behavioral, neurosequential, family systems, psychoanalytic and mindfulness approaches into her practice. She is founding member and past president of the Montana Art Therapy Association and has taught courses on art therapy at conferences in New York, Washington, DC, and Montana. She is Trauma I Certified.

Lees high energy and willingness to go to any lengths to help clients and colleagues is unparalleled. As a business owner and entrepreneur Lee was a founder of East Coast Recovery Services’ The Strathmore House transitional sober living for men in Boston, MA. She has been a leader in the treatment field since 2004. Lee holds a certificate from UCLA in Alcohol and Drug Counseling, is a Board Member of the Association of Intervention Specialists and has managed interventions since 2005. She was Executive Director at Caron Treatment, Western region, for 4 years and Executive Director at Promises Treatment in Los Angeles for 10 years. Lee pioneered and continues to work with a not-for-profit treatment center for women in Nepal and began the first Women’s Narcotics Anonymous meeting in Kathmandu. Lee’s unique skills and efforts have demonstrated her talent and dedication to advancing recovery both on a local and international level.

Dr. Paul L. Hokemeyer is an internationally renowned clinical and consulting psychotherapist who works with individuals and families in the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union. A clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, he received his certification as a Clinical Trauma Professional and is licensed in New York and Colorado as a Marriage and Family Therapist. In addition to holding a Ph.D. in psychology, Dr. Paul holds a doctorate in law and a M.A. in clinical psychology with a focus on family dynamics. Dr. Paul’s academic and clinical research, in which he explores the culture of wealth and celebrity has been published by Lambert Academic Press, The Journal of Wealth Management and is the topic of an upcoming book to be published by Hazelden and distributed by Simon & Schuster, spring 2019. Dr. Paul has become one of the world’s most sought after media experts for his on-air work on CNN International, Al Jeezara, Good Morning America, FOX News, and the Today Show. He is frequently quoted as an expert by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, Market Watch, WebMD, London’s Daily Mail, Men’s Health International, Prevention, Women’s Day, Yahoo, and others.

Wendy Lauber, LCSW-R is a New York State Licensed Social Worker working as Primary Therapist at Urban Recovery. Wendy has worked in the addictions field for over 20 years in a variety of capacities and believes in the resilience of people in recovery and their families. Wendy has developed programming in a variety of settings to include and treat family members affected by addiction – these include one residential and three outpatient settings (The Children’s Village, Inter-Care Ltd., New Directions and Safe Foundation). Wendy is trained in CBT, EMDR, CRAFT and holds a TEAM-CBT Level I certificate. She has trained in Psychodrama with Robert W. Siroka, PhD, Jaqueline D. Siroka, ACSW, TEP, and also with Tian Dayton, PhD, TEP. Wendy has expertise in treating co-occurring disorders and is a former Co-Chair of New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Manhattan Mental Health Council. Wendy holds a Masters in Social Work in from The Hunter School of Social Work (now known as The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College).

Patricia Meyers

Senior Executive Director of Admissions and Alumni Services

Patricia Meyers

Patricia has been in the field of behavioral health for over 20 years and is a certified chemical dependency counselor and is trained in family crisis intervention, relapse prevention and the reintegration process of clients returning to their communities.

Her previous position as Executive Director of Alumni and Client Services at Promises Treatment Center for over 15 years gives her great insight to residential treatment from first phone call to alumni status.

Patricia has been honored at many recovery related events

Share! Recovery Awards she was honored with the Ken Schonlau Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Sobriety”. Also, Patricia received the “Woman of the Year” Award hosted at the Miriam’s House Annual Mother’s Day event.

Jared received his MA in Social Work from The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, and his BA in Psychology from SUNY Geneseo. He is also currently pursuing his doctoral degree matriculating at the University of Pennsylvania. Jared previously worked as a primary therapist at the New York Center for Living, where he provided intensive individual and group therapy, focusing on developing productive relapse prevention skills, encouraging psychological flexibility, nurturing insight, improving interpersonal communication and strengthening family relationships. In the past he has also worked as a clinical therapist at both Catholic Charities and Neighborhood Counseling Center, as well as a residential habilitation specialist at YAI National Institute for People with Disabilities.

As the Environmental & Safety Quality Assurance Director at Urban Recovery, Manuel is responsible for supervising the recovery advisors as well as environmental services. Manuel is a certified alcohol and substance abuse counselor and has provided treatment in residential, intensive outpatient and outpatient facilities for more than seven years. He also has more than a decade of commitment in varies law enforcement agencies and worked with one of the largest non-profit organizations introducing community-based programs and training. Manuel has long history of mentoring and fostering relationships based on trust and professional boundaries, which enable growth, development and healing. His depth of experience provides necessary skills to meet each client on their own path to recovery offering inspiration, guidance and influence.

Karen Reass, CASAC2, ICADC, CCI

Family Specialist

KAREN REASS, CASAC2, ICADC, CCI

Karen Reass is an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, an Advanced Certified Relapse Prevention Specialist, and a Certified Clinical Interventionist. Karen’s passion is educating and inspiring all those impacted by addiction as she believes in the power of families and communities healing together.

With three decades of experience at every level of care and training with the finest thought leaders in the field, Karen blends her wealth of personal and professional experience to warmly engage her clients with wisdom, clarity, and humor. Trained in Structured Family Recovery, CRAFT and ARISE, she provides clear strategies to navigate the recovery process for the families she works with presenting new options for the restoration of integrity.

Working with Karen will help families see the interconnectedness of the journey towards wellness as she illuminates the path that is accessible to anyone that wants to support the recovery process.

As a founder and former Executive Director for the Sanctuary in Delray Beach, Nancy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of addictions. As a registered nurse, she has devoted over 35 years to working in both mental health and substance abuse, having extensive experience in inpatient and outpatient settings, developing detox programs, clinical outreach and case management of clients. Her extensive history of working in addictions led her to create the Sanctuary in Delray Beach and serve as its CEO for 13 years. In addition, Nancy is a past board member of the National Alliance of Recovery Residence (NARR) and was the founder and past executive director for the Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR). She has been a member of the Sober Home Task Force for the last two years. She continues to support others in recovery by facilitiating groups for the Intervention Project for nurses for the past 24 years. She is the presiding Executive Director of the Delray Beach Drug Task Force and is an integral member of the planning and execution team for all of the previous SUD TALKS™ events. Nancy’s entrepreneurial nature and “can do” spirit has led her to cultivate a clinical consulting organization that she is proud to be the owner and operator of.

Tim Thomas

Business Development Consultant

Tim Thomas, Business Development Consultant

Tim has worked in the medical and behavioral healthcare industries for over 25 years in Ohio, Georgia and Florida. He has served as a consultant for several start up programs providing assistance in the business development efforts. Tim was introduced to the addiction treatment & prevention arena as a teen through a state-wide peer education program. He has since worked in senior living, hospice care, geriatric medicine, urgent care, employee assistance and behavioral health. He was introduced to concierge and executive medicine during his time at Emory Hospitals in Atlanta, GA. Through his roles as a regional director of sales & marketing, he has enjoyed cultivating his team to success and establishing genuine long-term connections with accounts. Tim has a firm belief that quality client care delivered through highly ethical standards will yield outstanding results to those we serve”.

SOCIAL

Urban Recovery is a facility based on the vision of delivering recovery from the best place and the perfect location. Being in the center of New York City, in Brooklyn in the Redhook area and close to three major international airports: (LGA) LaGuardia Airport, (JFK) Kennedy, (EWR)Newark Airport affords easy access to international clients from all corners of the world and their families. Inquiries from cities all over the world like: Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Miami, Florida, Michigan, Canada and the UK and call in with a direct link from Urban Recovery website.

Urban Recovery has developed a signature model for wellness that is unparalleled in the industry. In fact, UR is the only private, free-standing residential treatment center in New York City. Our approach combines an internationally-recognized treatment team of clinical, administration and recovery management professionals who know how to provide a high-end experience and facility to support a residential substance and alcohol treatment.

Whether you come from across the world or across the river, UR will work with you and your trusted providers that can help you make a healthy, successful, and stable transition back to your life.